Jonathan Gary Parker faces 19 charges after police stop stolen car

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP - A St. Thomas man is facing charges after he allegedly stole a vehicle and credit card as well as was caught driving under the influence.

Jonathan Gary Parker, 22, of 7968 Lincoln Way West, was charged with 19 offenses including theft, receiving stolen property, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, access device fraud, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, following too closely and reckless driving after an incident Tuesday, according to Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg.

Trooper Joseph M. Lauricia with PSP Chambersburg observed the 1997 Dodge van that Parker was driving going down Lincoln Way West following too closely behind another vehicle at 1 a.m., according to a police affidavit.

Parker then drove through a stop light at Lincoln Way West and Warm Spring Road and proceeded to pass a vehicle on the left in a no-passing zone at a high speed, police said.

Police stopped the vehicle and Parker was identified as the driver with one passenger, Dante Richard Scott, the affidavit states.

"Upon requesting Parker to turn off the ignition to the vehicle, he related that he could not figure out how to," Lauricia wrote in the affidavit. "I then noticed that the ignition was disconnected and hanging from the steering column."

Parker got out of the vehicle and police noticed a strong odor of alcohol as well as very slow and sluggish behavior and glassy, bloodshot eyes, the affidavit states.

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A bunch of wires were also seen hanging from his jacket.

Upon investigation, police found a GPS unit and XM radio tucked into Parker's jacket sleeve as well as a Susquehanna Visa bank card belonging to another person, the affidavit states. The vehicle was also determined to have been stolen.

Officials with Chambersburg Police Department contacted the registered owner, Glenn Brown, who related the vehicle had been stolen from in front of his residence on Edgar Avenue, police said.

Parker was taken to Chambersburg Hospital for a blood test where his blood-alcohol level was found to be 0.139 percent, the affidavit states. He was later taken to the police station before being committed to Franklin County Jail.

Police then contacted the Visa card owner who related her purse had been stolen from her vehicle sometime that evening and there were several charges from Sheetz, Norland Pub and other establishments she did not authorize, police said.

Parker is currently on probation through Franklin County. Since 2010, Parker has been charged with several counts of theft, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, providing false identification to law enforcement, accidents involving damage, flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment, driving while operating privilege was suspended or revoked, driving at a safe speed and following too closely, according to online court records.

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Samantha Cossick can be reached at scossick@publicopinionnews.com and 262-4762.